Eastern leaders clash over Namatala wetland

A MEETING convened to resolve the conflict between the Bagwere and Bagisu turned chaotic when the eastern regional police commander, Alphonse Mbuga and the LC 3 chairman of Bunghoko in Mbale district, Ahmada Washaki, reduced it to a shouting match.

By Daniel Edyegu

A MEETING convened to resolve the conflict between the Bagwere and Bagisu turned chaotic when the eastern regional police commander, Alphonse Mbuga and the LC 3 chairman of Bunghoko in Mbale district, Ahmada Washaki, reduced it to a shouting match.

Washaki accuses the Police of fuelling the conflict. Mbuga, in turn, accuses Washaki of childishness.

In the Tuesday meeting, Washaki claimed, police officers in Budaka were siding with the area politicians to beat up the Bagisu farmers in Namatala wetland.

“They collect drug addicts from the trading centres and, with the help of the police, deploy them in the wetland to torture our people. That is why the local government minister (Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire) condemned the Police during his recent visit,” Washaki said.

He interrupted every speaker who tried to explain the cause of the conflict and the need for politicians from either side to restrain the locals.

This angered many in the meeting including Mbuga. “The chairman is just fooling us (sic). He did not even attend Otafiire’s meeting but is making statements on the outcomes of the meeting,” a furious Mbuga said.

“Don’t threaten me. I came here on my own to deliberate on this issue and you can’t arrest me,” Washaki shot back banging the table.

Participants, who included the regional CID officer, the resident district commissioners (RDCs), district police commanders and environmental officers from Budaka and Mbale, condemned Washaki’s behaviour.

“A leader is supposed to be exemplary and guide others but your behaviour is no better than a primary prefect. This is a very sensitive issue that must be addressed with precision,” said Henry Nalyanya. the Mbale RDC.

Otafiire, on September 16, convened a meeting between leaders and residents from either side at Kamonkoli trading centre in Budaka in an attempt to resolve the inter-tribal conflict.